Adzonkor residents appeal for assistance to complete CHPS Compound project

The Chief, and people of Adzonkor near Ziope have appealed to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists interested in health to come to their aid to complete a self-initiated Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound project.

The project, which started in 2018, is currently at the roofing level and would need 'an amount of GHS120, 000 to make the place usable, Torgbui Satsi III, Chief of Adzonkor told Ghana News Agency (GNA).

Conducting GNA round the project at Adzonkor in the Agortime-Ziope District of the Volta Region, he said they decided to take their destiny into their own hands by embarking on the CHPS Compound project to bring healthcare services to the doorsteps of the people of Adzonkor Electoral Area and beyond.

This he explained would also improve healthcare accessibility, especially for children, lactating mothers, and pregnant women when completed.

Torgbui Satsi said residents of the electoral area, which comprised of 25 communities travelled over 7 kilometers to access healthcare at Ziope which was tiresome and time consuming.

He said, 'the project is perceived by the people as timely intervention as it would reduce time spent in accessing healthcare service in Ziope.'

The Adzonkor Chief said diseases such as malaria, cholera, skin infection and motor accidents are prevalence in the area, so the project, 'if completed would serve as a place where numerous motor accident victims could be given first aid before they are transferred to hospitals.'

Torgbui Satsi said the residents were ready to provide communal labour for the completion of the project as it was dear to their hearts.

Source: Ghana News Agency

GIFEC digital skills training benefits basic school pupils in Hohoe

A total of 30 basic school pupils from electoral areas in the Hohoe Municipality, have received training under the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications' (GIFEC), digital skills training.

The two-week free training held at the Aswaj English-Arabic School in Hohoe enabled the beneficiaries acquired skills in Cisco Get Connected, Entrepreneurship and Introduction to IoT.'

Mr Daniel Noble Awume, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), awarding the beneficiaries certificates in Hohoe noted that the programme in giving information, communication and technology training to the young beneficiaries was very commendable.

He said the training would escalate government's efforts to bring technology and ICT to the doorsteps of all communities.

Mr Awume noted that the beneficiaries would be able to help their parents, friends and community members and urged the beneficiaries to extend their skills to their colleagues to get more people benefiting from the all-important programme.

Mr Sulemana Lukman, a facilitator, noted that the beneficiaries were very cooperative and fully involved during the intensive training.

He said they were looking forward to the government bringing more of such initiatives to benefit more people at the local levels and commended the MCE for creating the opportunity for the pupils.

Miss Harriet Kwawu, the Training Course Representative, noted that the training had given them skills which they would extend to their colleagues and communities.

She expressed gratitude to the government, GIFEC and partners and the MCE for the opportunity given them.

Mr Thompson Adoboe, a Deputy Municipal NADMO Director, commended the participants for the success chalked and admonished them to be weary of trends on social media which would not help them positively.

GIFEC together with International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and Cisco introduced the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC).

It was aimed at building a digitally literate citizenry to boost their ICT capabilities to enable them to participate meaningfully in the knowledge society of today.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Yinson Production commissions ICT center at Arthur Fischer Catholic school

Yinson Production West Africa Limited has commissioned a new computer laboratory to facilitate the learning of Information Communication Technology, (ICT) education in the Arthur Fischer Catholic Basic School in Apowa, in the Ahanta West Municipality.

The fully furnished ICT centre has 30 desktop computers and accessories, a server, printer, a projector, and a remote-controlled automated electric projector screen to train more than 3,000 students in the Company's operational area.

Mr Edward Mensah, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager of Yinson Production noted the investment in education delivery in the Western Region which included, the construction of a dormitory block in Nkroful Secondary, welding centre at the Takoradi Technical Institute, library blocks and other such significant contributions in the Region.

Mr Mensah said, 'ICT skills are increasingly important in modern society, and our children need to have these skills to do well in their studies and be ready to enter the working world and Yinson aims to support and promote STEM studies by equipping students with the necessary tools.'

The computer laboratory was the second to be provided by the company in the Ahanta Municipality, with the first ICT Centre commissioned in 2020 at the Kejabil Municipal Basic and Junior high to promote quality education in the Municipality.

The Company, he said, also held a bi-monthly ICT class for 14 ICT teachers in the municipality.

Mr George Effah, the Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive was full of gratitude to Yinson Production for bringing information and Technology education closer to the youth in the district.

He said, the recent introduction and implementation of a course in the curriculum for primary and junior high school emphasized the importance of ICT in the education system and the pivotal role it played in the holistic cognitive abilities of the youth.

The Municipal Education Director said, ' it is expected that people will develop some core competencies such as data requests, data cutting, collaboration among other internet tools for personal development.

He said the age where ICT was taught in the abstract form was over… ' our schools lack basic ICT equipment, such as desktop computers, laptops, projectors to mention a few and Learners are taught in an abstract manner.'

Mr Effah noted how the facility had brought a great relief to academic work in the catchment area adding, 'Yinson has secured the good of our children and so shall the Lord secure the good and success of the company. '

He said ICT in the school would help new ways of learning for learners, which promoted inclusion too.

Naa Opoku Agyeman, the Managing Director of Yinson Production, Ghana said the company was working efficiently to bring into achievement seven of the Sustainable development goals.

She said Education, a fundamental tool for human development, continues to be a strong priority in the Corporate Social Investment in its operational enclave.

Naa Agyeman said young people formed the critical workforce for future development of the country and thus must be equipped with modern and technological tools to become more resourceful.

The Managing Director of Yinson Production said, 'CT is very important to your education now …as we at Yinson Production have recognised this need and fulfilled, please treat it as yours and take good care of it for students after you to also benefit'.

The MD said Yinson Production was passionately delivering powerful solutions in offshore production, renewable energy, green technologies, and offshore marine, with presence in 18 countries.

Mr John Agyare, the Ahanta West Municipal Chief Executive acknowledged the marvelous support in complementing the Assembly's effort on education delivery in the municipality.

He entreated the school to take good care and maintain it to ensure durability.

Yinson Production West Africa was established in 1983 as a transport agency in Johor Bahru-Malaysia and after successfully entering the FPSO market through a joint venture to build two offshore production assets in Vietnam, Yinson transformed to become a full-scale execution and service FPSO provider in 2014 through the acquisition of Fred. Olsen Production ASA and subsequent divestment of its non-oil and gas business segments.

Currently, Yinson Production is one of the largest independent floating production, storage and offloading leasing companies globally, with an orderbook of approximately USD22.4 billion until 2048 and its position as a top tier FPSO contractor is driven by its excellent project management team, industry-leading safety and uptime performance and leadership position in sustainable FPSO design.

Meanwhile, Yinson's Zero Emission FPSO concept is paving the way for the decarbonization of the FPSO industry and aligns with the Group's Climate Goals to be carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Geingob pays tribute to workers in advancing socio-economic development

President Hage Geingob has paid tribute to workers for the crucial role they play in advancing socio-economic development and shared prosperity for the Namibia people.

Geingob in a statement on the occasion of the annual International Workers Day on Monday said the fight for freedom in Namibia has its origins in the demands of workers for fair labour practices and better working conditions for the black majority.

He said during the liberation struggle, Workers Day, was an occasion for the oppressed workers of Namibia to unite and sharpen their resolve to accelerate their fight against the Apartheid regime and to break the chains of oppression.

“Workers are a precious resource in the history and development of our nation,” he said, noting that 33 years after independence, working in a triumvirate that includes government, trade unions and the private sector, Namibia has made good progress in advancing workers' rights, consistent with the letter and spirit of the Namibian Constitution as a foundation of the Namibian House.

“I urge all stakeholders to deliver on their mandate of upholding and protecting workers' rights and interests by promoting sound labour relations and fair employment practices. In accordance with our processes, systems and institutions, employers should promote conducive working environments and fair benefits for workers,” he stated.

Geingob further called on stakeholders to engage in good faith in collective bargaining to mitigate the impact of the economic downturn on workers, noting that those bargaining for workers' rights should at all times resolve labour disputes in a spirit that advances the interests of the country.

Geingob also highlighted that as the world is rapidly changing, and with it the future of work, through the intensification of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence, more demands are placed on Namibian workers to retool and reskill.

“By establishing the 4IR Task Force in 2021, which has since completed its work by making recommendations to prepare Namibia for the 4IR, I urge the private sector and trade unions to accompany the Namibian government in preparing workers for the future of work,” he said.

The Head of State went on to say that government remains conscious of the fact that unemployment disproportionately affects the youth and the unskilled and assured that it will continue to create a conducive environment for jobs to be created.

To succeed in that endeavour, the private sector must be a major driving force in reducing unemployment, which is an important pillar in the fight against poverty.

The day was held under the theme, 'Workers United in ensuring productivity for National Economic Growth and Guarding against Unfair Labour Practices in the World of Work’.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Ndemula concerned about employers still not paying the minimum wage

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment Creation Hafeni Ndemula has expressed concern that there are some employers who still do not pay their employees the minimum wages set for their respective sectors.

Ndemula, at the commemoration of International Workers Day at Swakopmund on Monday, stressed that there is still an alarming number of workers being paid low wages that cannot provide for a decent standard of living.

“It is regrettable to say that, despite Namibia’s sound labour laws, there are still employers who opt to operate without following the statutory labour standards,” he noted.

Additionally, the deputy minister has expressed great concern that not all employers ensure and provide a safe and healthy working environment for their workers, which should be employers’ top priority towards employees.

“Employers should review and improve the wages of their workers on an annual basis. I am also able to inform you that the ministry is working to bring the National Minimum wage into force as soon as possible, however, it should be noted that the minimum wage is only a floor for wages and does not mean maximum wage,” he said.

President of Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) Evans Mashwahu noted the need to review existing laws in order to ensure that deductions from workers’ salaries are affordable and do not leave them in worse financial positions.

“Furthermore, there is a need to address laws such as section 70 on collective agreements and 76, which supports the no work no pay principle.

This principle penalises workers participating in legitimate industrial action and undermines their right to bargain collectively,” he expressed.

Mashwahu noted that laws and policies should instead promote a culture of dialogue and cooperation between employers and employees.

Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope emphasised the importance of a strong trade union movement and cordial relationships between stakeholders in the Labour sector.

The day was commemorated under the theme; ‘Workers united in ensuring productivity for national economic growth and guarding against unfair labour practices in the world of work’.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency